What to know
- U.S. Department of Justice began releasing Epstein-related documents as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act on Friday.
- U.S. House Oversight Committee also released another small batch of photos on Friday.
- Among those seen in the photos are famous celebrities like Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger, along with politicians.
- The internet is reacting to the sheer amount of redaction that was seen in the DOJ’s Epstein files.
On Friday, both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. House Oversight Committee released documents and photos related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – many featuring high-profile faces.
The DOJ’s release came in the eleventh hour of the deadline of Dec. 19 – thirty days after the Epstein Files Transparency Act was signed by Trump and passed into law.
Among documents released are thousands of photos – of Epstein’s homes as well as prominent people, including Epstein’s former partner Ghislaine Maxwell, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Diana Ross.
Additionally, the U.S. House Oversight Committee also released another batch of photos the same day. The Committee’s democrats have been steadily releasing Epstein-related documents in small batches since September.
Reactions to the released files
Internet users are taking the releases with a grain of salt.
“I know this is deeply unpopular to say. But you cannot assume that every single photo of Epstein with someone is sketchy. Evil people present themselves as normal in a majority of their interactions. That’s how they infiltrate into people’s lives,” one X user reasoned.
The sheer amount of redaction has the internet riled up.
“Following the release of the Epstein files, Trump announces a nationwide shortage of black crayons,” one X user wrote.
100+ pages of redactions isn’t transparency. It’s a coverup.
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) December 20, 2025
The Epstein Files Transparency Act is the law of the land, passed by Congress & reluctantly signed into law by the President.
Trump’s @AGPamBondi is breaking the law to protect rapists & pedophiles with money & power. pic.twitter.com/NKdhzHJ9zM
The release of the documents left some with even more questions unanswered.
“Everything is there, except one crucial fact… Who really was Jeffrey Epstein? A sex-addict alright, but what was his mission? His true motive, the ‘real source’ of his immense wealth and his outstretched connection to ‘gentile’ power centres,” an X user asked.
“Which countries and individuals did Epstein help in the financial sector?” another asked.
Here are some faces that you might recognize, with some appearing more than once.
Bill Clinton
Former U.S. President
Clinton’s prominence in the recently released photos has received a lot of attention. He is seen in the company of other celebrities and redacted personnel. Clinton’s spokesperson Angel Ureña says “this isn’t about Bill Clinton.”
— Angel Ureña (@angelurena) December 19, 2025
Donald Trump
Current U.S. president
The President of the United States and Epstein were known to have public connections – belonging to the same social circles in New York and Florida. One of Trump’s campaign pledges had been to release the files relating to Epstein.
Steve Bannon
Former White House Chief Strategist
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Brother of King Charles
Formerly known as Prince Andrew, Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal and military titles. He has denied any allegations of misconduct in relation to Epstein. He is the third child of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Bill Gates
Businessman
Woody Allen
American Filmmaker
Michael Jackson
Celebrity
David Copperfield
Magician
Kevin Spacey
Celebrity
Diana Ross
Celebrity
Mick Jagger
Celebrity
Chris Tucker
Celebrity
Richard Branson
Celebrity
Noam Chomsky
Philosopher
The images released on Friday by the Oversight Committee and the DOJ are reportedly only the tip of the iceberg, with the DOJ expected to release several hundred thousand more in the coming weeks.
You can keep up-to-date with the latest Epstein-related files made public with the House Committee’s Epstein Records and the Department of Justice’s Epstein Library.
